six string bass - hard to handle?

fourmations · Post by **fourmations** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:26 pm

hi all

i fancy a six string bass, are they serious planks?

the reality of living in ireland is that i will probably buy a cheap one
without even touching it, there is sweet f-a in the shops here

i have converted an old guitar to six string bass
and it worked in principle, but the strings are so close together
and the strings are still sloppy.

i want to play two hand tapping and pop off some nifty primus stuff

regards

4

kalipigeon · Post by **kalipigeon** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:56 pm

It really depends on the brand how the string spacing goes. My chief complaint with them is the more strings you add, the more the neck seems to get more plank-like. I've never been comfortable playing a 6, but I can get around on a 5 pretty well. It comes down to how big your hands are, though since you're planning to do double tapping, the reach from normal playing position to the low B won't probably be as much of an issue in that style.

pj · Post by pj » Fri May 01, 2009 1:41 am

Are you referring to a 6 string bass like a Fender offset which can be made into a baritone or a real bass w/ 6 strings?

Slow-Pop · Post by **Slow-Pop** » Sat May 02, 2009 1:48 am

I wouldn't go cheap on a six string, or at least make sure the low B string isn't too flappy and unuseable. it's definitely going to be more plank like though, just the way it is when you add that many fat strings.

fourmations · Post by **fourmations** » Sat May 02, 2009 12:35 pm

thanks guys

pj, its a full on bass i mean, not a fender vi style

i have actually made a vi out of an old regular 25.5 scale electric

the strings are an A and E bass string (105, 80)
and the rest are off a 63 - 17 baritone set

it works ok but the E is sloppy and the strings are well close together
as you can imagine!

rgds

4

Post by **sookwinder** » Sat May 02, 2009 6:23 pm

fourmations wrote:pj, its a full on bass i mean, not a fender vi style

although I don't give a shit, there are many here who would challange you to a duel at dawn with sabres for making this statement

fourmations · Post by **fourmations** » Sun May 03, 2009 3:38 am

sookwinder wrote:
fourmations wrote:pj, its a full on bass i mean, not a fender vi style
although I don't give a shit, there are many here who would challange you to a duel at dawn with sabres for making this statement

lol, they are totally different instruments though!
a vi is more of a baritone style guitar in shape, neck size etc etc

a six string bass is a bass! huge neck, proper bass spacings
and a low low B string, whereas a vi is E-E an octave down

im not slagging off vi's, i have made sort of one as mentioned above

you would be hard pushed to play slap on a fender vi !!!

cheers

4

Post by **sookwinder** » Sun May 03, 2009 5:43 am

just for info .. the USCG bass vi I built last year (and the one fellow forumite blackads built) have a deeper "bassier tone than any of our 60s or 70s jazz and P basses why ? I have no idea ...

There are bass players here who use as their main axe a bass vi

I have a 5 string CS Jazz bass and I can count on one hand (with 4 fingers missing ) the times I've really needed that low B

just my 5 cents...

fourmations · Post by **fourmations** » Sun May 03, 2009 5:48 am

sookwinder wrote: just for info .. the USCG bass vi I built last year (and the one fellow forumite blackads built) have a deeper "bassier tone than any of our 50s or 70s jazz and P basses why ? I have no idea ...

There are bass players here who use as their main axe a bass vi

I have a 5 string CS Jazz bass and I can count on one hand (with 4 fingers missing ) the times I've really needed that low B

just my 5 cents...

thanks for the input sook, appreciated

im very open to advice on this one

its something Im just playing with in my head

the six string appeals to me for slap pop and tapping primus type stuff etc etc
and the string spacing on a vi would be useless for that, right?

rgds

4

dug · Post by **dug** » Sun May 03, 2009 5:50 am

my bass player owns Primus with 4 strings

spook · Post by **spook** » Sun May 03, 2009 5:54 am

dug wrote: my bass player owns Primus with 4 strings

+1

One of my friends has a green 6 string warwick corvette. Apart from being one of the ugliest phallic monstrosities i've ever seen it is, in my opinion, the biggest plank ever. I've played 2x4s that were less planky...

fourmations · Post by **fourmations** » Sun May 03, 2009 12:06 pm

dug wrote: my bass player owns Primus with 4 strings

spook wrote:
dug wrote: my bass player owns Primus with 4 strings
+1

One of my friends has a green 6 string warwick corvette. Apart from being one of the ugliest phallic monstrosities i've ever seen it is, in my opinion, the biggest plank ever. I've played 2x4s that were less planky...

wooah, i need to get out more!

your bassists are as good as les claypool!?

cheers for the feedback guys

i think i just need to buy a regular bass and see how we go!

but fwiw... i am tempted by shortscale basses because i have small hands
and as a guitarist who has mocked up a bass vi, i can fly around the
bass vi whereas with a full scale the stretchs are new and difficult

i know many will say "get used to a proper bass" but there are plenty of shortscale fans out there
who are amply happy with thier instruments and deny the "its gotta be 34" full scale" theory

regards

4

idiotbear · Post by **idiotbear** » Sun May 03, 2009 1:49 pm

The Fender VI is the only bass in the world that has more than 4 strings and is not gross. Fact. But then, stuff like Primus isn't what you'd call my thing, so...

Both in terms of music and equipment, I advocate a keep-it-simple attitude. Or, if you're going to do hard shit, make it look and sound simple. Maybelle Carter being a case in point. Simplicity is my golden rule, principally because I suck.

fourmations · Post by **fourmations** » Sun May 03, 2009 2:43 pm

idiotbear wrote: The Fender VI is the only bass in the world that has more than 4 strings and is not gross. Fact. But then, stuff like Primus isn't what you'd call my thing, so...

Both in terms of music and equipment, I advocate a keep-it-simple attitude. Or, if you're going to do hard shit, make it look and sound simple. Maybelle Carter being a case in point. Simplicity is my golden rule, principally because I suck.

ok cool, but maybe you do just suck! lol

no, im with you on general keep it simple theory, but i do dig primus!!
nothing wrong with listening to talented musicians now and then!

rgds

4

spook · Post by **spook** » Sun May 03, 2009 3:05 pm

idiotbear wrote: The Fender VI is the only bass in the world that has more than 4 strings and is not gross. Fact. But then, stuff like Primus isn't what you'd call my thing, so...

Both in terms of music and equipment, I advocate a keep-it-simple attitude. Or, if you're going to do hard shit, make it look and sound simple. Maybelle Carter being a case in point. Simplicity is my golden rule, principally because I suck.

+9000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
(Except the "i suck" Bit, i'm sure you're good!

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six string bass - hard to handle?

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